We don't want to strike: On eve of doctors' walkout, the mutiny grows

Strike on June 21 – the first industrial action by the profession in almost 40 years – has been widely condemned by politicians and the public

Union has proposed that only emergency or urgent cases are seen and it is thought more than 150,000 operations, tests and hospital appointments will be cancelled and 1.2million GP appointments postponed

The dispute is expected to lead to the cancellation of 1.25million GP appointments along with tens of thousands of routine hospital procedures, from hip replacements to heart-bypass surgery.

Last night, patients groups, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, along with other politicians and doctors, urged the union to reconsider.

Katherine Murphy, of the Patients' Association, said: 'The only people who will lose out in this are patients. Every extra day that someone waits in pain for an operation or treatment is a day too long.

'It's difficult enough for patients to see their GP as it is and this action will only make the situation worse.

Patients are also waiting longer for hospital treatment. We would urge the BMA to reconsider.'

In a letter to Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA – the third sent by the Health Minister, Mr Lansley wrote: 'The BMA appears set on its path, but I hope that your members will put patients first.'

Meanwhile, a poll of 1,265 GP practices by Pulse magazine appears to show many doctors are having second thoughts. Only 281 centres – 22 per cent – confirmed they would definitely take part in a walk-out.

A similar survey by GP magazine of 1,660 practices found just 21 per cent had confirmed they would be participating.

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About 80 per cent of GPs who took part in the BMA's ballot last month were in favour of industrial action.

However, fewer than half of the 40,000 GPs in England took part.

The
Mail revealed yesterday how family doctors will still receive their
typical day's pay of £430 even if they take part in the strike.

Although
practices which are protesting will be open, doctors will only treat
patients with cases they consider to be 'urgent' or 'an emergency'.

There will be no routine appointments and patients who are not deemed seriously ill will be turned away.

However, even senior members of the BMA have admitted that an increasing number of doctors are having a 'crisis of confidence'.

Dr Mark Sandford Wood, chairman of the
union's GP branch in Devon, said many doctors had concerns over the
Government's changes to their pensions, which will mean they have to
contribute more from their salaries and retire later.

Questionable support: About 80 per cent of GPs who took part in the BMA's ballot last month were in favour of industrial action. However, fewer than half of the 40,000 GPs in England took part

But he added: 'A lot of my colleagues feel passionately about pensions but have decided to put patients first.

'Some of the senior GPs in my practice are really struggling with their conscience. It's a question of which child do you love more, your pension or your patients?

'That's why some of my colleagues who supported industrial action have decided to carry on providing the same service they always provide.'

A number of GPs are so opposed to the strike that they have withdrawn their membership from the BMA.

Dr
Daniel Poulter, a Conservative MP and practising doctor quit the
organisation this month, having been a member for more than 12 years.

He
said: 'As a doctor – rather like being a policeman – it's just not
acceptable to strike. If we do then it means operations will be
cancelled.

'This means
that someone who has been waiting many weeks or months for vital surgery
is going to have to live longer in pain and distress.

'It's going against the principle of being a doctor. I can't support this – it's immoral.

'The reason I resigned is our doctors are among the best paid in the world and receive very generous pensions.'

Other GPs chose to air their misgivings on the internet. Peter Mcevedy, a GP, told Pulsetoday.co.uk:

'Most GPs would not wish to do
anything which would potentially harm their patients – I don't know of
any practice around here who will be taking action. Wrong action in my
view – do something to harm the Government, not the patients.'

Another
GP, Raj Thakkar, told gponline.com: 'We as GPs must recognise that
there is an economic crisis and we do have jobs – as such a strike could
be very damaging to our reputation as GPs?'

Dr Hamish Meldrum, chair of the BMA council said yesterday: 'Patient safety is our absolute priority.'